The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-03-30

when he needs it. Look at mammals
| patched gown and Rosie's dyed bonnet
strings! Why, they can't even 90 to
church, they are such objects He gets
his lunch at a restaurant, and we eat cold
beans, and drink dandelion coffee and
aBoys," fluttercd Rosie, "I'vc an idea.
Mary Penn, who lives on the next farm
YOU know, came to see Elma and ME yes.
terday. Papa is earning his living; well
earn something, too"
81 should like to know how" muttered
Spencer. II might hire out somewhere
as farm hand, if it vast form that wretch
ed old horse, and the pigs, and the wood
chopping, and" :,
"oh, but there is something that won't
interfere with the chores, nor with
SCHOOL," said cheerful little Rosie. "Just
listcn-all ask of you is to listen!"
And the weeks grew into months, ana
the red leaves eddied down in little
swirls from the maple trees, and s'pig-
killing time" came, and, with the aid OF a
lame, one-eyed man, Mr.. Chesney laid
down his own stock of pork and sausages
for the winter with the sense of being
triumphantly economical.
The family had left off complaining
now. Apparently they were resigned to
their doom. But there was some things
that Mr.. Chesney could not explain at
ALL
A new rug frightened up the dismal
hues of the parlor carpet; Rosie had a
crimson merino dress, trimmed with black
velvet bars; Elma's fall jacket was edged
with substantial black fur; and-grand
grand climax of extravagance-Mrs.
Chesney had n new shawl, in place of the
old broche garment which had been her
mothers before her!
He looked over the housekeeping books
with renewed vigilance; he consulted the
stubs of his check-book with glance
that nothing could escape.
-don't-know-how w-they-man-
age it." said he, scratching his nose with
the lead-pencil that he always carried. 81
hate mysteries, and I mean to be at the
bottom of this before I'm an hour Older. !"
He took his account-book under his
arm and marched into the kitchen, where
his wife was clearing away the late sup
per.
"Abigall," said he, chow is this3 I've
given you no money. You've long left of
asking for money. How have you man
aged to smarter yourself and the children
up so2 won't be cheated by own wife j"
Elma set down the pitcher which she
was wiping, and came and stood before
her father with glittering eyes and cheeks
stained with crimson, like a flag of battle.
ssPapa," she said, "you must not speak
to mamma so. Mamma would not cheat
you nor anybody else. It's money that
we have earned ourselves. There! Now"
Mr.. Chesney stared at the girl with in
credulous eyes. :,
"And if you don't lhelieyc it; come and
see how" said El9a, finging down her
towel. 'tMary Penn showed us. She
told us everything, and gave us the first
swarm of bees. } There are fourteen hives
down under fthe south wall. Spencer
sold the honey for us; and weplanted all
the nice flowers that grow down in the
meadow, that you said was too stony and
barren even for the sheep to pasture upon: I:
and and Is III dug and Thoed around them
after the chores were all done, and we
sent boxes and bouquets of lilies and
verbenas to the city every day by Mr..
Penns wagon. An d we gathered wild
strawberries before the sun was up, and
got cherries out of the ED lane and-th,ee the
money Is ali ali ours-every cent of It'll"
"Honey, eh2" said Mr.. Chcsney, star
ing at the row of hives. for Elma had
dragged him out into the November
moonlight to the scene of action. "Well,
I've seen these many a time, but al
ways s'posed they belonged to Squire
PENIS folks. And flowers, and wild
berries! Didn't think there was so much
money in 'em. Guess I'll try the business
myself next year. Queer that the women
folks should have got the start OF me-"
And after that he regarded his family
with more respect. The mere fact that
they could earn money had elevated them
immensely in his sight.
But when spring came he lost his able
coadjutor.
Miss Elma incidentally announced to
him one day that she was goin G to be
married to Walter Penn the next week.
"And mamma is coming to live with
with u.s." added Elma "She can't stand
the damp house and this hard work any
longer"
But Mrs. Chesney did not go to the
Penn Farm. Mr.. Chesney hired stout
serving maid, and laid drain-pipes under
the kitchen stoop.
If his wife really understood her busi-
, ness so we'll, it was worth while to keep
her we'll and active, he considered.
II couldn't we'll leave papa, you
know" said Mrs. Chesney to Elma. "He
means we'll, and now that Rebecca Beckel
is coming here, and the kitchen is dry, we
shall get along nicely. wouldn't go
back to the city for anything now"
"Nor I, either" said Elma. Sand oh,
mamma, shall always love those bee
hives under the holly-hocks, for it was
there that Walter asked me to be his
wife"
And Mrs. Chesney tearfully kissed her
daughter. She, too, had been happy
once, and had her dreams.
1t was to be hoped that Walter Penn
was made of different metal from George
Chesney.
To Elma, however, all the world was
coueur de rose. Had she not the eternal
talisman of Youth and Love?-Saturday
Might